Kristin Hersh is a singular artist. For almost 40 years she’s been writing and performing songs. She may have gotten her start as a kid in Throwing Muses, but her creative life has expanded to other bands, solo work, critically acclaimed books, and iconic collaborations.

Even if you’re not across Kristin’s work, you’re going to love the conversation you’re about to hear. About the magic of song, how music industry gets in the way of art, and the deep friendships she’s formed across her life.

From Vic Chesnutt to Sam Cooke to X, this is one of my favourite conversations about music, muses, and creativity.

• Violent Femmes - 'Kiss Off'
• X - 'White Girl'
• Vic Chesnutt – 'Bakersfield'
• Tendon Levey - 'Tendril'
• Sam Cooke - 'Nothing Can Change This Love'

Over the years of I've chatted with many incredible people from the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Artists, comedians, musicians, singers; and a common thread through all these conversations is how much music has meant to them. How it’s been a place of joy and solace, love and healing.

As we celebrate the annual Mardi Gras parade, I dug into the archives to pull out some of my favourite moments on Take 5.

All of these stories come from the heart, but they also show just how much music is a map for all of us. How it can be a home, a salve, a lightbulb moment, and a community.

• Scissor Sisters - 'Running Out'
• David Bowie - 'Boys Keep Swinging'
• Maddie Zahm - 'You Might Not Like Her'
• Ry Cooder & V. M. Bhatt - 'Isa Lei'
• N-Joi - 'Anthem'

Listen to the full episodes here:

Rhys Nicholson Takes 5 with the unexpected https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/rhys-nicholson-take-unexpected/103148616

Jake Shears' boundary pushing songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/jake-shears-take-5/10905602

Casey Donovan's sanctuary songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/casey-donovan-take-5-sanctuary-songs/104562904

Ed Le Brocq's songs on the road https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/ed-le-brocq-take-5-on-the-road/102427136

HAAi's pride songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/double-j-take-5-zan-rowe-haai/102019612

Lifeline: 13 11 14

For more than 15 years, Sharon Van Etten has worn her heart on her sleeve. 

Over 7 albums she's processed the raw emotions of life through some incredible songs, and continued to evolve her sound with every album.

From early days playing indie folk and Americana, to big anthems, incorporating synths, and now collaborating with her band for the first time on the writing of an album. With The Attachment Theory on deck for her latest, I invited her to Take 5 with her songs of metamorphosis, and what she revealed was the very blueprint of her musical heart.

• Jethro Tull - 'We Used To Know' 
• Mary Chapin Carpenter - 'Passionate Kisses'
• The Lemonheads - 'Ever' 
• Nine Inch Nails - 'Terrible Lie' 
• Portishead - 'Only You'

New Zealand band Shihad are calling it a day. 

Over almost 4 decades they’ve torn up stages around the world, proving themselves one of the best live bands around. As they hang up the guitar leads, what better time to ask them to Take 5 and share some of their best memories?

This is a blueprint for how Shihad came to be. It's also the story of a friendship that began in a schoolyard in Wellington and lives strong between lead singer Jon Toogood and drummer Tom Larkin, to this day.

From Killing Joke to AC/DC to Metallica, horns up for a helluva farewell.

• AC/DC – 'Back In Black'
• Headless Chickens – 'Gaskrankinstation'
• David Bowie – 'Let’s Dance'
• Killing Joke – 'Love Like Blood'
• Metallica – 'Master Of Puppets'

One of the most influential bands of our time are coming back to Australia. 

To celebrate New Order’s return, I’m dusting off a cracking Take 5 from 2020 with the one and only Bernard Sumner. 

The frontman joined me to share the songs that made him, which was a real treat given his blueprint has changed the course of modern music.

Dive into the Haçienda, and hear some incredible stories with this Mancunian legend.

• Iggy Pop - 'Shades' 
• Joe Smooth - 'Promised Land'
• Electronic - 'Twisted Tenderness'
• Arcade Fire - 'Ready To Start'
• David Morales - Hideaway [Ft. Blondewearingblack] [Classic Mix]

Listen to Peter Hook's Take 5 here

What do you say about Wayne Coyne? 

The legendary frontman of Flaming Lips has been bringing us joy for more than four decades. Their live shows are the stuff of legend; wild visuals, confetti, balloons, furry animal costumes and giant plastic balls rolling across the crowd. And then there's their music, strange and uplifting pop songs that have become the soundtrack to our own lives.

As they visit Australia to play Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in full, Wayne opens up his record box and shares the very foundations of who he is today.

• The Beatles – 'Strawberry Fields Forever' 
• Billie Eilish – 'BIRDS OF A FEATHER' 
• Nancy Sinatra – 'You Only Live Twice'
• Julee Cruise – 'Falling'
• Aphex Twin – 'Flim'

Listen to why comedian Adam Hills picks a classic Flaming Lips song in his Take 5 here

This is one of the best bits from Take 5.

Aussie hip-hop royalty Hilltop Hoods had me in stitches when they came in to Take 5 in 2022. Like many of you, I’ve grown up with the Hoods, and had plenty of fun at festivals and shows with them too. It was such a buzz to finally Take 5 with them and travel through some of the highlights of an extraordinary career.

• Def Wish Cast - 'Rappin In My Sleep'

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/hilltop-hoods-take-5/101350034

This is one of the best bits from Take 5.

Angel Olsen did a stunning Take 5 in early 2023. It came after a period of massive upheaval for Angel—the death of her parents, coming out as queer, and all the joy and grief that circled around it. She came to the conversation with a new perspective, and a beautiful collection of songs that captured the full spectrum.

• Chris Bell - 'I Am The Cosmos'

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/double-j-take-5-zan-rowe-angel-olsen-full-spctrum/102075744

This is one of the best bits from Take 5.

Fatboy Slim was in Australia in January 2020, right before the world locked down.

He came in to Take 5, and took us all on a thrilling journey through his crate digging collection and remarkable history.

• Donna Summer – ‘I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley remix)’

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/fatboy-slim-dancefloor-evergreens/11918368

This is one of the best bits from Take 5.

Caroline Polachek had a huge 2023, and at the end of it she joined Zan Rowe to Take 5. 

The energy of her most recent album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You had been replicated with a volcano at her live shows, so her theme was centred around explosive songs of release (i.e. 'volcano' songs). 

It wasn’t the first time she’d done Take 5, but more than a decade had passed, so we caught up on her own musical evolution too.

• Pink Floyd – 'The Great Gig in the Sky'

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/double-j-take-5-zan-rowe-caroline-polachek/103233714

This is one of the best bits from Take 5.

Comedian and much loved TV host Adam Hills got a huge reaction when he joined Zan Rowe to Take 5 with his Hall of Fame songs.

There were laughs, tears, and plenty of wild stories. 

• Elbow - 'One Day Like This'

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/adam-hills-take-5-hall-of-fame-songs/103979338